Ultrathermostable protease genes

Abstract

There are provided hyperthermostable proteases having an amino acid sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 1, 3 and 5 of the Sequence Listing or functional equivalents thereof and hyperthermostable protease genes encoding those hyperthermostable protease. There is also disclosed a process for preparation of a hyperthermostable protease by culturing a transformant containing the gene.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An isolated hyperthermostable protease, comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, or functional equivalent of said hyperthermostable protease in which one amino acid to 5% of the amino acid residues of SEO ID NO: 3 are mutated, wherein said functional equivalent has casein hydrolyzing activity and is inhibited by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride. 
     
     
       2. An isolated polynucleotide encoding the hypertheromostable protease or functional equivalent thereof as defined in claim  1 . 
     
     
       3. The polynucleotide according to claim  2 , which comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4. 
     
     
       4. The polynucleotide according to claim  2 , which hybridizes to SEQ ID NO: 4 under stringent conditions. 
     
     
       5. A method for preparing a hyperthermostable protease which comprises culturing a transformant containing the polynucleotide as defined in claim  2  to produce said hyperthermostable protease, and harvesting said produced hyperthermostable protease from the culture.